Nullform #5

Nullform #5

by Dem Mikhailov

Striving for the top is the path of the strongest. If you are not moving upward, sooner or later you will tumble back to the bottom.

Elb has long understood that life in a cage, and among the scum, is not for him. He cares not for his new, higher position in stinky Drainagetown. The hero wants to find a way out of the steel labyrinth.

But even if he makes it, what awaits him on the other side of the steel walls?

Elb and his squad of goblins are about to receive the answer not only to this, but also to other questions.

The squad has been through much together, and maintained its unity, but will it always be this way?

For not everyone is prepared to go to any length to achieve the desired goal, especially if it is the goal of the goblin Elb, who will stop at nothing, and is prepared for any sacrifice.

625 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 13, 2022

Reviews

[Akshay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nullform #5 (Nullform, #5) by Dem Mikhailov

A defiantly enigmatic continuation that deepens its commitment to cryptic storytelling and world-building ambiguity—rewarding readers willing to embrace uncertainty while frustrating those demanding narrative clarity or conventional resolution.

Plot Structure and Narrative Progression: Book 5 follows Elb, a goblin protagonist trapped in "Drainagetown," a hierarchical underground settlement within a "steel labyrinth." Elb has achieved elevated status within the city's social hierarchy, yet rejects comfort in this "cage," instead pursuing escape and discovery of what awaits him on the other side of the steel walls.

The narrative centers on Elb and his squad of goblin followers navigating both external threats and internal group dynamics. The plot escalates exploration of character backstory through flashbacks, particularly regarding Elb's psychological makeup and his capacity for sacrifice. Simultaneously, the series gradually reveals what is happening to their large friend Gabby, suggesting evolving character fates and stakes.

A crucial plot development involves discovering more followers of Mother, suggesting an emerging religious or ideological movement within the world that complicates Elb's objectives. This element hints at larger cosmological forces shaping reality, aligning with the series' broader mystery about the nature of the world itself.

Thematic Architecture and Reality Interrogation: Mikhailov constructs the Nullform series around deliberate epistemological uncertainty—readers cannot distinguish whether narrative events represent objective reality, subjective perception, or some hybrid existence. This philosophical approach positions the work beyond typical fantasy or sci-fi, functioning as philosophical inquiry embedded in narrative form.

The title “Nullform” itself suggests emptiness, absence, or formlessness—potentially commenting on the nature of identity, reality, or existence within the world. Mikhailov maintains this abstraction throughout Book 5, resisting explanation while deepening the mystery. The narrative structure itself becomes part of the thematic content, with readers experiencing the same epistemological confusion as protagonist Elb.

The tension between Elb's clear-eyed pragmatism (striving for the top) and the series' refusal to provide conventional answers creates productive friction. Elb pursues concrete goals—escape, advancement, survival—while the narrative consistently undermines goal-oriented thinking through ambiguity and mystery.

Character Development and Interpersonal Complexity: Reviewers praise the increased backstory from Elb's flashbacks, indicating Mikhailov employs retrospective character construction to develop protagonist psychology. Rather than presenting complete characters upfront, the author gradually assembles character understanding through accumulated revelations.

The exploration of whether the squad will always maintain unity introduces genuine interpersonal stakes. Unlike conventional fantasy where party cohesion remains assumed, Mikhailov questions whether shared experience and loyalty survive ideological or goal divergence. This doubt proves particularly significant given Elb's willingness to pursue goals by any length and accept any sacrifice.

The phrase "not everyone is prepared to go to any length to achieve the desired goal, especially if it is the goal of the goblin Elb" suggests the protagonist's ruthlessness may alienate followers. This tension between leadership and morality remains unresolved, maintaining character complexity beyond simple hero/villain binaries.

Worldbuilding and Gradual Revelation Strategy: This volume depicts a very strange, mysterious world with lots of action, that is slowly being revealed and is off the charts in complexity. Mikhailov deliberately withholds comprehensive worldbuilding exposition, allowing readers to assemble understanding incrementally.

The steel labyrinth functions simultaneously as literal dungeon, metaphorical prison, and cosmological reality. By Book 5, layers of understanding emerge—what appeared as simple setting becomes increasingly complex, with Mother (mentioned as having followers) suggesting supernatural or ideological forces shaping existence.

This gradual revelation strategy requires reader patience and tolerance for ambiguity. The narrative explicitly refuses easy answers, maintaining deliberate ambiguity and open-ended nature as an aesthetic choice rather than narrative failure. For audiences accustomed to fantasy providing complete worldbuilding maps and clear cosmological rules, this approach can be disorienting.

Narrative Style and Atmospheric Construction: Mikhailov's prose is atmospheric and rich in detail, constructing foreboding and mystery through vivid descriptions and immersive language. Rather than straightforward exposition, descriptions function symbolically, with physical detail suggesting philosophical implications.

The author skillfully constructs a sense of foreboding and mystery that hangs over the narrative, making it difficult for readers to anticipate the next turn of events. This narrative strategy prioritizes emotional and psychological engagement over plot predictability, engaging readers through mood and uncertainty rather than suspenseful plot mechanics.

Series Position and Cumulative Impact: As the fifth installment in the Nullform series, Book 5 benefits from established reader familiarity with Mikhailov’s cryptic approach. However, the work maintains accessibility for new readers unfamiliar with previous volumes, developing character and worldbuilding sufficiently to function semi-independently.

The series appears designed for long-form accumulation of understanding. Rather than each book providing resolution and fresh mystery, the Nullform trajectory involves deepening existing mysteries while introducing new complications. This serialized uncertainty rewards dedicated readers while frustrating casual consumers seeking linear narrative progression.

Intellectual Demands and Reader Expectations: Critically, the work is a mind-bending exploration demanding active reader participation in meaning-making. Mikhailov provides little authorial guidance, requiring readers to theorize about reality's nature, character motivations, and worldbuilding logic, aligning more with philosophical or postmodern literature than commercial fantasy fiction. The deliberate ambiguity and open-ended nature of the narrative are part of the series' charm, but may frustrate readers who prefer concrete resolution.

Comparative Genre Positioning: Within contemporary fantasy, Mikhailov occupies space similar to China Miéville's New Weird fiction or Yoko Ogawa's philosophical SF—works prioritizing epistemological uncertainty over adventure. The series resists conventional isekai/portal fantasy expectations in favor of experimental narrative approaches. Compared with Mikhailov's other series (Crossroads of Oblivion, Clan Dominance), the Nullform sequence is the most aggressively intellectual and least interested in conventional worldbuilding satisfaction.

Nullform #5 represents sophisticated literary experimentation embedded within commercial fantasy. Mikhailov deepens his commitment to cryptic storytelling that rewards active interpretation while systematically withholding conventional narrative satisfactions. The work explores whether the steel labyrinth functions as literal location or metaphor for existence itself, whether Mother represents deity or ideology, whether Elb's ruthlessness constitutes necessary leadership or moral corruption. These questions remain deliberately unresolved, inviting reader theorization without authorial guidance. For audiences embracing ambiguity and philosophical inquiry through narrative, the work offers substantial intellectual reward. For those demanding plot clarity and worldbuilding consistency, the novel proves deliberately frustrating. The series succeeds precisely by rejecting audience expectations for fantasy narrative, instead positioning itself as experimental fiction that interrogates the nature of reality, identity, and meaning-making through fantasy's conventions.

 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5) — Philosophically ambitious and atmospherically immersive, though its deliberate narrative obscurity limits accessibility beyond specialist audiences seeking experimental fiction. 

[Dennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a strange series and a strange world. It is some relief that they finally find a group that is not immediately hyperviolent rapist monsters. It is odd though that the last page, and I do mean the last page, they go from the middle of a fight to a calm discussion on a wagon. No transition at all. Seems like a few pages didn't make it to Kindle.

[Fred · Rating 4 out of 5]

We now have escaped theseeming underbelly of this world and what do we find. Islanders? The System?!

At first I wasn't sure how I'd enjoy this entry but I got really into it as it progressed. We get more back story from Elb's flashbacks, we find more followers of Mother and we learn what is happening to our large friend Gabby.

An excellent entry.

[Ray Ritchey · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing world!

What a strange series, by at the same time super addictive. The world building is amazing, and off the charts. A very strange, mysterious world with lots of action, that is slowly being revealed.

[GiGi · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit info-dumpy but we're finally learning more about the world.

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as the other books.